Torpedo-placing machine.



J. D. BELL.

TORPEDO PLACING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 1911.

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WITH/E8858 A INVE/VTUR W ATTORNEYS Patented J an; 9, 1912.

J. D. BELL.

TORPEDO PLACING MACHINE.

APPL'IOAT ION FILED FEB. 9, 1911.

1,014,56 1 Patented Jan. 9; 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ATTOHWE Y8 JOHN DAVID BELL, 0F ARCADIA, KANSAS.

TOBPE DO-PLACING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 9, 1911. Serial No. 607,506.

Patented Jan. 9,1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, JOHN D. BELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Arcadia, in the county of Crawford and State of Kansas, have invented a new and Improved Torpedo Placing Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: To provide an apparatus which may be utilized to place on a railway track a torpedo or other signal device; to construct and arrange an apparatus of the character mentioned so that the same may be loaded and operated to place the torpedo on the track in desired location during the running of the train; and to provide an apparatus of the character mentioned simple and economical in construction.

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fragment of a railway car, showing as attached to the rear platform thereof a torpedo placing machine constructed and arranged in ac cordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top view of a torpedo placing machine, constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4- is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective, showing the upper end of the placing machine and the socket for securing the same in position; Fig. 6 is'a vertical section of the placing machine, showing the same in operative position with a torpedo carried therein and in the act of being placed upon the railway track; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view in detail of the signal torpedo and the holding clips therefor, constructed for employment in a machine formed and arranged in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 8 is a perspec tive view of the rocking lever for holding the torpedo.

As shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a trailer frame, formed by side arms 12, 12

and cross braces 13 and 14, is hingedly connected to the rear platform A of a railway car B. The hinge connection is made by inserting the hinge wing '15 within socket brackets 16, 16, the said brackets being fixedly mounted upon the edge of the plat form A, as shown best in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The brace 14 is directly hinged to the wing 15, a hinge pin 17 being directly extended through the hinge connection formed substantially as shown in said Fig. 5 of the drawings. Between the lower ends of the said arms 12, 12 is pivotally mounted a trailer wheel 18 whereby the said frame is supported on the railway track 19, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings. The side arms 12, 12 are provided with rails 20, 20 and 21, 21. The rails 20 and 21 form a runway for the lateral flanges 22, 22 formed on a guide block 23. The guide block 23 supports the upper end of a link 24, to which it is pivotally connected by means of a hinge pin 25. The lower end of said link is connected by means of a hinge pin 26 to the lugs 27 27 formed on a block 28. The block 28 is provided with a flange plate 29 to form a guide for the said block and to extend between the rails 30, 30 and 31, 31, the said rails being fixedly secured on the inner sides of the side arms 12, 12.

The torpedo C, shown best in Fig. 7 of the drawings, is provided with the usual clips D, D for grasping the head of the track 19. The torpedo is also provided with a tail plate 32. lVhen in operative position the torpedo is held between spring jaws 33 and 34, which jaws are attached to the block 28, the said jaws forming the holding support for the torpedo. The normal position of the jaws 33 and 34 is that in which they close against each other, or so nearly approximated as to produce a holding pressure on the explosive pad of the torpedo when the same is inserted between the said jaws.

To open the jaws 33 and 34 a handle 35 is provided. In the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the handle 35 reaches to approximately the floor of the platform A. In this position the block 28 is forced to the lower end of the trailer frame, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings. The lowermost position of the spring jaws 33, 33. The crank pin engagement of the jaws 33 forms an easy and fiexible connection between the lever 39 and the said jaws 33.

In the operation of the invention the flagman of the train lifts, by means of the handle 35,the block 28 and parts connected therewith to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and from the position shown in full lines in the same figure. To permit the link 24 to swing to the position as shown in dotted lines, the block 23 moves upward between the rails 20 and 21 until the flange 29 on the block 28 is withdrawn-from engagement with the rail 31, and the block 28 is drawn from under the brace 13. In this position of the parts the link 24 swings on the pin 25, lifting the block 28 and parts I connected therewith, as shown. The block 28 is held in line with the link 24 by means of a presser spring 43. The spring 43, it will be observed, exerts a pressure on the lugs 27 and at both sides of the pin 26 forming the pivot for the block 28. The block 28, with its jaws 33 and 34, being raised convenient to the flagman, a torpedo C is deposited between the jaws, the tail plate 32 being extended upward. By means of the handle 35 the block and parts connected therewith are dropped into lowered position where the flange plate 29 rests upon the extended ends of the rail 21, the rail 20 being removed to permit the extension downward between the arms 12, 12 of the plate 29. A further extension of the handle 35 inserts the plate 29 between the rails 30 and 31, forcing the block 28 below the brace 13 until the tail piece of the trigger 36 strikes upon the said brace 13. In this posit-ion of the parts it will be found that the tail plate 32 has been carried, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, to below the wheel 18, and resting on the track 19, and the retention of the jaws 33 and 34 is suflicient to prevent the withdrawal of the torpedo. When now the flagman desires to eject the torpedo, he presses upon the handle 35, forcing the tail piece of the trigger 36 against the brace 13. This rocks the trigger 36 and forces the head 38 thereof against the lever 39. The lever 39 is rocked on the pin 40 and forces open the spring jaw 33. The grasp of the jaws 33 and 34 being thus released the drag on the tail plate 32 is sufficient to withdraw the torpedo from the the wheel 18 resting firmly on the rail19.

The torpedo is then placed between the jaws 33 and 34, the tail plate 32. extending beyond the said jaws. The jaws are then dropped down between the guide rails;30 and 31, and under the cross brace 13. In this position the trigger 36 bears against the cross brace 13. A decisive push on the handle 35 opens the jaws 33 and 34 to release the torpedo, and advances the same sufliciently far for the tailplate 3 2 to becaught between the trailer wheel 18 and the rail 19. The drag of the rail 19 draws the torpedo from the grasp of the jaws. The wheel 18 imme-, diately rolling over the tail plate and the body of the torpedo forces the clips D over the head of the rail and the torpedo is in place. The torpedo having been set, the flagman manipulates the handle 35 to return the block 28 and parts carried thereby to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which position a second torpedo is deposited.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A torpedo placing machine having a trailer frame adapted to be supported on the railway track and pivotally mounted upon the platform of a railway car; an arm pivotally connected with said frame adapt-- ed to belifted to the level of said platform; gripping jaws mounted on said arm for receiving the torpedo; and manually operated means for raising and lowering said arm and jaws to the loading and discharging position. 7 V

2. A torpedo placing machine having a trailer frame supported at one end upon the platform of the car and at the other end'by a wheel rolling on the railway track; a pivoted frame slid-ably mounted in the trailer frame and provided with resilient gripping jaws adapted to hold a torpedo; and means for lifting said pivoted frame to present the end having the gripping jaws above the platform of a car and for moving the said pivoted frame to deliver the torpedo carried thereby under the wheel supporting said trailer frame.

3. A torpedo placing machine having a said trailer frame to ride the railway track;

adelivery frame movable in said trailer frame to and from the said Wheel; and a tor- In testimony whereof I have signed my pedo adapted for engagement With said dename to this specification in the presence of livery frame to be held thereby, said tortwo subscribing Witnesses.

pedo having a tail piece extension adapted JOHN DAVID BELL. 5 to extend under the said Wheel at the mo- Witnesses:

ment of delivery of said torpedo from the A. F. WHITE,

delivery frame. J. M. BRAGG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

